There is a record amount of frozen water in the Rocky Mountains this spring. Cataract Canyon will be running at record levels, maybe 80k cfs or more. If you're planning a trip, this may be what you're in for:

http://www.nps.gov/cany/planyourvisit/loader.cfm?csModule=security/getfile&PageID=131892


More high water videos here:

http://www.nps.gov/cany/planyourvisit/rivervideos.htm

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

WOH .....I believe all the fun went out of that trip
Wow ... since turning 50 , I notice my sense of adventure has changed , I no longer want to drive so fast , I 'm careful on my bicycle, etc etc

rafting ..........way down the list

I concur on the aging thing. Less testosterone? I rowed the Grand Canyon in 1990 and I still raft on class III but I have absolutely no desire to see Cataract Canyon at those levels. As at least one of those videos shows, a skilled, thoughtful oarsman, might have a successful run through the Big Drops, but given the size and turbulence of the water, I'd say odds are no better than 50/50 that you'll be in the boat and it will be upright.

By the way, the BLM is saying that the Green may crest over 60k. It's not out of the question that the Colorado crest over 50k. If they do, I think Cataract Canyon will have levels never before seen by modern rafters. it might be worth four wheeling and hiking out to the rim to see what it produces.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Been there and got the T shirt, several times in the late 80's. I still boat, but now it's mostly canoes on I - II water. My back won't take it anymore.

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You're a daisy if you do.
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84 Euro 240D 4spd. 220.5k sold
04 Honda Element AWD
1985 F150 XLT 4x4, 351W with 270k miles, hay hauler
1997 Suzuki Sidekick 4x4
1993 Toyota 4wd Pickup 226K and counting

I have some friends who have canoed Cataract Canyon but not at those levels.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

No thanks, I think I'll pass on that.

Makes cruising through Plum Gut (a thin channel between Orient Point, L.I. and Plum Island which connects L.I. sound to the Atlantic) look like a walk in the park!

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

looking at that again, it's clearly an older film. Looks like an inexperienced boatman with wimpy bow paddlers who would have been more helpful had theybeen bailing, in a non-self bailing bucket boat. The sweep boat clearly made it thru.

__________________
You're a daisy if you do.
__________________________________
84 Euro 240D 4spd. 220.5k sold
04 Honda Element AWD
1985 F150 XLT 4x4, 351W with 270k miles, hay hauler
1997 Suzuki Sidekick 4x4
1993 Toyota 4wd Pickup 226K and counting

Apparently a lot of boatmen choose bucket boats for that section at high water since the additional weight in the bottom of the boat resists flipping. The Canyonlands page shows the dates of the footage.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

More wisdom?

Or is that the same thing?

97. I know that line of thinking, but can't say I agree with it. That boat was so full of river that it was literally wallowing around... I'll take a self bailer anytime. The cataraft run on the video page is pretty cool. I've only rowed one a few times and only on the San Juan and the Green, but they are a hoot.

__________________
You're a daisy if you do.
__________________________________
84 Euro 240D 4spd. 220.5k sold
04 Honda Element AWD
1985 F150 XLT 4x4, 351W with 270k miles, hay hauler
1997 Suzuki Sidekick 4x4
1993 Toyota 4wd Pickup 226K and counting

When I ran the Grand I had a bucket boat and everyone else self-bailers or catarafts. All the self-bailers deflated their floors for Lava Falls. That rapid is short and steep with no difficult manoevering required once you've filled up.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13